Medical ID bracelets?

[fitfrugalfab]

Anyone know a cheap place to get medical ID bracelets? Is there even a way to get them for free?

[going2ER]

I know that if you have a low income you can get a MedicAlert braclet for free. If it isn't too serious of a medical condition or something very specific you can buy braclets at stores like Target or Walmart for diabetes, heart disease, etc. that are not expensive.

My daughter has a very rare illness and in case of injury needs to be treated immediately so she has a Medic Alert braclet with the information on it and we pay $5.00 per month for them to keep her records updated and for medics to call in an emergency. For us it is worth the price. You would have to determine for yourself how much the braclet is worth to you.

[Sailor Sam]

What about a tattoo? Probably too extreme for lower-level heath concerns, but might be a good idea when dealing with anaphylactic reactions, seizures, etc.

[FLA]

I think EMS will look for a medic alert tag before turning you over and finding out you have diabetes and anaphylactic shock from bee stings by reading your butt, lol

[Astatine]

If you got a tattoo, you'd want it on your inner wrist.

If you can afford it, I'd pay for the MedicAlert bracelet. It's kind of cheap rather than frugal IMO skipping on a MedicAlert bracelet. If you can't afford one, then I guess do what you can by making sure you have a very clear, easy to find note in your purse or wallet.

I have a bracelt (plus the card in my wallet and one stuck on my fridge in the kitchen). It's unlikely that I'll ever need it but if I do need it, I will REALLY need it. It's worth it for my peace of mind. Even for something like if I was in a car accident or something and get taken to hospital unconcious, I'd want the paramedics and hospital docs to know that I'm type 1 diabetic and that they need to monitor my blood sugars and give me insulin etc. 

[FLA]

there is a thing called a Vial of Life, you can usually get them at hospitals, town halls, MD offices.  It's a small cylinder, you fill in all your vital info, including a copy of your health care proxy, any advance directives and a med list.  You stick a sticker on your front door to alert EMS that you have one, then a sticker on your fridge to tell them it is inside. 

These are small enough for a woman to carry in her purse.  A man could shrink the docs down small enough to fit in this wallet possibly.  Or even have it in your glove box and put a sticker on the glove box. 

[fitfrugalfab]

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely look into the MedicAlert bracelet. Tattoos are out, my DH would never go for one and I don't want anymore, but that's a good idea for others.